Many people think of charm bracelets as a recent trend, rising in popularity only since the beginning of the millennial era. This is not the case. These chic jewelry accessories, often worn for protection or as an expression of personality, emerged on the scene (albeit not fashion!) centuries ago and have been massively adored and fancied by people throughout history to the present day.

Charm bracelets evolved from an ancient tradition of wearing special tokens as jewelry to ward off evil and bring good fortune. But over time, their symbolism took up notes of sentimentality, chronicling special moments, achievements, and relationships in a woman’s life, and as a memoir to capture the beautiful passage of time. The charms clanging and jangling on her wrist are keepsakes or reminders of her beliefs, dreams, hopes, and superstitions, and they talk about the life she has lived so far and the woman she has become through everything. Considered great conversation starters, charm bracelets and the charms a woman wears best reflect the essence of a woman and her life. 

Some of the ancient charms worn during the prehistoric civilizations (in Mesopotamia, Ancient Egypt, and Ancient India) were shells, teeth, bones, and other natural elements that people believed would protect them and keep bad energies at bay. Ancient Pharaohs were the first to delve deep into the mysticism of the ideas of life, death, and the afterlife. Later on, as the charms developed more into pieces of adornment and as amulets and trinkets to be worn as necklaces or bracelets, they were made of rocks, woods, gems, clay and other materials that could be molded into pieces of aesthetic beauty.

Journey of Charm Bracelets Through Years in History

Like all forces of nature, it is only natural for humans to safeguard their lives and protect themselves from the influences of inexplicable evil energies. Hence, the practice of wearing talismans or amulets has existed since the very beginning of human civilization. Post the prehistoric times, when tokens were only carried as protective symbols, the first recorded appearance of charms as jewelry pieces dates back to the cultures of Assyrians, Persians, Babylonians, and Hittites, around 2300 – 700 BC. They fashioned their talismans with the addition of semi-precious stones like lapis lazuli, rock crystal, and more to elevate their visual appeal. In fact, it was in the Babylonian era, that the fashion of wearing amulets on bracelets made from leather chords arose.

Like many ancient cultures, the life expectancy of ancient Egyptians was quite short compared to today. With a constrained lifespan on earth, the Egyptians made sure to prepare for a wealthy life after death. They considered charm bracelets their means to secure a comfortable afterlife. It was a protective shield against evil, a sign of the deceased’s status in life, and an identification tag to help the Gods guild the wearer and their possessions to the appropriate status level in life beyond death. Different tokens were conferred with different meanings:  the Scarab (the Beetle motif from the eastern Mediterranean region, considered sacred in Ancient Egypt) was attributed to the Sun God Ra, signifying healthy rebirth and regeneration; during the same period, while wearing the Eye of Horus spelled protection.  

Charm bracelets did not always look like they do today, but the beliefs and purpose they held during various times in human history have been mostly the same. They were positioned as protective talismans, as sentimental treasures, and sometimes as the collective denominator for a social group or a religious belief. During the Roman empire, charms were used as a form of identification among different ethnic and religious groups. Christians carried small fish motifs under their clothing to reveal and identify themselves to fellow Christians. Jewish scholars wrote passages from their law and placed them in gold amulets which they wore around their neck to gesture their love for the Jewish law, while wearing them close to their heart. During the Dark Ages, people wore charms around their wrists or neck to denote their family origins and manifest their allegiance to any specific ruler, dynasty, or political belief. Medieval knights, queens, and warriors wore amulets and trinkets to protect them during the war and bring them home safely. While the practice vehemently continued over periods, the underlying connotations behind wearing charms kept tweaking with each culture and popular belief.

European Renaissance - Waning Popularity of Charm Bracelets

The period of the European Renaissance, from the 14th to 17th century, is particularly remarkable in the journey of charm bracelets. Due to heightened cultural and literary enrichments and the entire period marking a fervent abandonment of anything rudimentary or irrational, the mass popularity of charm bracelets underwent a significant setback. With growing affiliation to science, logic, and knowledge advancement, people’s belief in superstition and magic began to fade. Charm bracelets came to be considered primitive and redundant, and most influential, learned, and noble people refrained from wearing one. Only the masses, who had limited access to books and education and stayed stuck to their long-held beliefs, carried on the practice of wearing charms.

The Victorian Era – The Resurgence of Charm Bracelets

Queen Victoria's monumental contribution to bringing back the fervor for charm bracelets and establishing them as a statement jewelry piece cannot be undervalued. A connoisseur and ardent lover of beads, stones, and all things jewelry, the Queen, who reigned from 1837 to 1901, regularly wore charm jewelry, making them a fashionable accessory among the European elite and noble classes. One of the Queen's most iconic bracelets is the enamel hearts bracelet, a gold chain bracelet consisting of nine enamel-shaped heart lockets in different colors, each carrying a hair specimen of the Queen's children. It is said that this highly sentimental bracelet was given to her by Prince Albert three days after the birth of their first child, Victoria.

Queen Victoria is also credited with the inception of the legendary mourning charm bracelets at the death of Prince Albert, the father to her children and the love of her life. These bracelets carried lockets with hair locks or photographs of the deceased.


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The adjustable twist cable stainless steel bangle with sterling silver tree of life charm symbolizes togetherness and that you are never alone.

Charm Bracelets in the during 1920-1950

The 1920s evoked some glamorous additions to the charm bracelets as gold, platinum, diamonds, and gemstones were used in countless bracelet designs. The charm bracelet trend rose in popularity again as soldiers returning from WWII brought back small trinkets and charms to their sweethearts, from the European cities and the Pacific Islands where they were stationed.

Charm Bracelets Charming Hollywood in the late 20th Century

Beautiful and popular movie stars like Elizabeth Taylor and Joan Crawford could be seen wearing lovely charm bracelets while filming and continued the popularity of the personalized charm bracelet. Each bracelet told a unique story about the life of the wearer. Many of these vintage bracelets would sell for upwards of thousands of dollars. By the 50s and 60s, the charm bracelet became a rite of passage for girls and women. It was the must-have jewelry accessory for 16th and 18th birthdays, graduations, weddings, travel, and childbirth. Often, young girls entering their adult life were gifted an unadorned bracelet to be laid with charms as they progressed through life and gained experiences and memories. Women would journal their beliefs, faith, and experiences through charms on bracelets accumulated over their lifetime and then pass them on to their daughters to build on them further. Sometimes, just a single or few charms were passed as heirlooms to the daughters by parents, serving as words of wisdom long after they were gone.


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The 14k yellow-white gold link bracelet with the pavé diamond heart charm is the perfect gift for a sweet 16 birthday or graduation.

Today, the design of the charm bracelet has evolved to more than just unique charms and trinkets added to the links of the bracelet. Contemporary styles from Italy are made of flat charm links; other bracelets are fashioned from a wire with one or more charms dangling on them that can be stacked together or worn individually. There are also beaded bracelets with hanging charms and bracelets created around a particular theme. With longstanding popularity and unique designs, it is a wonderful time to create a charm bracelet that commemorates the special moments in your life. Explore singular designs at Gabriel & Co. and pick the ones that appeal to you the most.

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